Adams State Edged by Pace in Opener

ALAMOSA, Colo.- Adams State's effort received a fine 4-goal effort from sophomore midfielder Seth Stowell (Lakeside, Calif.) but came up on the short end of a heartbreaking 11-10 decision in their season-opener against Pace (N.Y.), Friday afternoon in cold conditions here at the ASU Lacrosse & Soccer Field.

The Grizzlies led 1-0 and then tied the score at 2, 3, 4 and 5 on three Stowell goals and another from freshman midfielder Mike Telles (Henderson, Nev.) in the first half but gave up two penalty-plagued goals in 33 seconds as the Setters took a 7-5 lead in the second quarter.

The Grizzlies would later pull within a single goal on four separate occasions, including once with 1:50 left in regulation but could not convert a potential game-tying possession in the waning seconds as the Northeast-10 Conference representatives escaped with the win, led by four goals from William Scioscia and a 3-point effort from Matt Gebhardt, both of whom are junior attackmen.

The game, which was also Pace's season-opener, was infested by penalties as the teams drew a combined 21 penalties totaling a whopping 17 ½ minutes.

The Grizzlies were 3 for 8 on their extra-man opportunities as they pulled within 10-9 on Telles' second goal with 7:57 to go with the Setters down three men.

However, Scioscia would answer back 3:47 later with his fourth goal to put the Setters up 11-9. They then won the ensuing face-off running the clock for nearly a minute before the Grizzlies' Alexander Rainey scored another man-up goal with 1:50 left to make the score 11-10.

However, the Setters' Marty Schnellenbach would when the face-off as Pace drew a tripping penalty before running the clock under a minute.

Grizzly freshman goalie Alec Hamlin (Grass Valley, Calif.), who would finish with nine saves, including seven in the second-half alone, then stopped a Pace shot giving the Grizzlies a chance. However, Pace sophomore defender T.J. Bonci forced a Grizzly turnover, ASU's 23rd of the afternoon, in the final seconds to preserve the win.

Stowell led the Grizzlies with 11 shots as ASU took 42 overall, six more than the Setters. ASU sophomore Josh Peterman (Santa Ana, Calif.), who added three assists, also scored on nine total shots while Telles and reigning Western Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association Defensive Player of the Year Jordan Stillwagon (Littleton, Colo.) tallied a pair of goals along with two caused turnovers and two groundballs.

Meanwhile, Chris Cunningham (Littleton, Colo.) was a solid 12 for 18 on face-off wins and tallied 10 groundballs for the Grizzlies, who will now turn their attention to Westminster (Utah), who they will host Tuesday afternoon at 3:00 p.m.

Meanwhile, the Setters will head to Denver to face Colorado Mesa in a neutral-site contest on the campus of the University of Denver, Sunday evening at 5:30 p.m.